AutoTrader Experiences

Comments

I have a car listed on autotrader.com. Last week I received an email from someone making a reasonable offer for my car. I thought it was a little odd to make an offer before seeing it in person but I did reply to him that I would accept his offer, and gave him my phone number to arrange to see the car. After 4 days I received the following email from him.

I am very sorry for getting back to you lately,I travel out of State for art exhibition and it will take me about three weeks to get back,I am actually getting the car for my old mum and will not like that you sell it to another interested customer.As regards payment.I am very okay with the price of $14200 and will send to you US POSTAL Money order to avoid further tardiness in completing the transaction so as soon as you get it cashed i will informe the agent that will come for pick up.I will need your full name as you will want it on the check,and address,including your direct phone number for easy communication.Get back to me as soon as you get this mail because i will like the car to be ready before my old mum return from Mexico.

Thanks for the link to the article regarding Postal money orders.I woujld never consider selling the car without actually talking to the buyer and meeting him in person. The fact that he is e-mailing me rather than picking up a phone is a huge RED FLAG for me.And why buy a BMW 323i for his "old mum"?

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!IT'S A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I have placed my share of cars on autotrader.com and have received the same weird emails.....but once you tell them that you will not release the car until the funds are safely in your bank.....you will never here from them again!!!!!EVERY single ad that I have placed on autotrader.com comes with one or more scam emails....and when I send a not so nice email back to them....again, you never hear from them again. If someone is interested in doing business like that then a phone call and wire transfer is the way to go....get your bank involved and asked them what in the best SECURE way of doing this transaction!!!Again, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

I agree with mldj98....Something is fishey. Even bank/cashier checks can come back to haunt you 2-3 weeks down the road. Have the friend meet you at your bank and tell him to bring cash only. This should scare away any scamers...

And I thought that changing (to a larger amount) is a standard con for inmates that get that ugly pen-pal gal. Get her to cash a valid $10 money order they have changed to $1000. And give the money to their dear old mum for lawyer fees to get them out of the framed-up charges that put them in the pen....

On 2/1/2006 I purchased a car from Sheehy Ford of Marlow Heights (Maryland) and I have had nothing but trouble since. I understand that I cannot print the names of the culprits, but if you don't go there, you will never need to inquire. I have reported them to BBB, but so far they haven't been very helpful. In not so many words, they are not honoring the agreement made by the former GM, who has not quit. Actually, I know there has to be some problems there because the dealership has gone through 1 GM and several floor managers since February of this year!!

The 2nd day after purchase, the trunk wouldn't open--I took te vehicle back, because I have 3 days to return the vehicle for a "refund". The GM said he would authorize the repair because he didn't want to refund the sale--I had the trunk fixed by the authorized repairman...Now 7 months later, I receive a bill where Sheehy refuses to pay the bill--AND I'M EXPECTED TO PAY UP!!!

I just want to save someone of the trouble that I have gone through for the last 7 months...I am totally turned off from SHEEHY FORD ---the Sheehy name is now a disgrace to hard working honest people looking for a quality vehicle and people of interity who stand behind their word and the vehicles that they sell to the public!!!!

I was wondering if any of you have had a similar experience buying a car using Autotrader.The seller is in England and the car is suppose to be in NY in a warehouse, the seller is using Moneybookers.com escrow services (UK based company, works like paypal), they require a deposit of 35% of the transaction to deliver the car for 10 days for inspection.I did my research and got the car fax on the vehicle, it shows the last owner to be a auto auction. The seller require the deposit to be paid to him as a money order before they can deliver the car for inspection.

The car is been sold for a lot less than the market value.It looks like a scam but I wanted to see if anybody else had a similar experience.